Ill Manors Review

Ill Manors Review

The movie Ill manors is about four main characters which are all drug dealers and one user and two prostitutes. Two of the drug dealers Ed and Aaron are mates that have grown up together and the other two know each other relatively well. The movie is surrounds it’s self around the struggles and hard ship of growing up and living in ‘run down’ areas as such.

Ill manors is a movie directed by Ben Drew or most commonly known as his stage rap name ‘Plan B’. So far Ben drew has only directed one movie which is Ill Manors. However, he has provided soundtracks to many TV series such as Eastenders, Shameless, and Celebrity Big Brother etc. As Ben Drew who is more commonly known as Plan B took a new step into the filming Ill manors demonstrated that he’s a gifted individual as ill manors was nominated for three awards and one of which he won. It was nominated in 2012 for the British Independent Film Awards and again in 2012 it won the Dinard British Film Festival. In 2013 it was nominated in the London Critics Circle Film Awards.

Ill manors had a large cast and crew that contributed to the success of the movie the main stars of the movie were Riz Ahmed, Ed Skrein, Natalie Press, Anouska Mond, Nick Sagar and many more. The audience may be familiar with certain cast members in the film for instance; Riz Ahmed who plays Aaron has acted in movies such as four lions. In Four lions we witness a different side to Riz Ahmeds acting. Even though the movie is still surrounded by crime we witness him in more of a comedy roll. In addition, some people may be familiar with Ed Skrein within the movie due to the fact that he MC’s at music festivals. Ed has performed with Plan B as well who is the director of the Movie. Ill Manors was the first movie where audience members witness Ed’s potential in acting. Furthermore, he has pursued his career in acting by joining the cast of ‘Game of Thrones’ in 2013. 

The main characters are Riz Ahmed and Ed Skrien in my opinion played fairly well. However, there are many more actors that can play the exact same roll for instance, Adam Deacon, Noel Clarke, Kano and Ashley Walters. Therefore, as a whole I believe the acting didn’t stand out as much as it could of for the main characters. However, Natalie Press who plays Katya the Russian mum played her role extremely good including Anouska Mond who played a prostitute addicted to drugs. These two actors stood out for me the most due to the fact that you felt more in tune with them. For instance, in one scene we witness Katya beaten up by her husband or boyfriend. During that scene we as the audience feel her pain as she’s just recently had her baby however, isn’t resting but is on the run from the Russian gangsters as she doesn’t want to raise her baby in a environment surrounded by drugs and prostitution. In addition, we again feel slightly sickened when we witness Michelle who plays the prostitute go from shop to shop to have sexual intercourse with the shop keepers in order to pay back Ed. The fact that she is forced against her will gives a more sinister feeling.

The genre of ill manors is crime, drama/thriller, the over lapping of three different genres does fit the films story and purpose. The film is more about struggles in run down areas as such shown. Overall the mood conveyed in the movie is fairly depressing as it made me think after the movie about how living in a place like that would be like and the hardships that may come with it. In addition, it gives a dull, moody atmosphere as well.

Overall the sound track used in the movie did fit its purpose for instance, during the movie towards the start there would be a minor sound track rapping out a characters background and current life story up until now. As first it didn’t ‘understand it much but not until later it did fit the purpose. I did like that however, equally dislike it as it was like they threw the whole background story. Personally I believe if they didn’t add it for some characters we could of pieced together their story. But it worked extremely well with the background story Katya. As we witness what her life was like before we was on the run from the Russian gangsters, therefore, we as the audience could sympathise with her more.

Ill Manors is aimed at the audience of 16 – 35 years of age predominately a male target audience. We can establish this as violence, drugs and foul language is commonly associated with more of a male target audience therefore, it may appeal to them more. However, it still may appeal to females as well. I would recommend it to people that are interested in UK crime dramas similar to Adulthood etc. However, there are too many movies alike therefore, it will be a double minded situation but I will still suggest to an individual.